Equine advice - yard safety

You may think accidents only occur when a horse or pony is being ridden, but many accidents happen in the stable and on the yard. Some horses do seem accident prone, but a number of basic precautions to minimise the risk to you and your horse and provide a safe yard environment are considered below.

What if your horse gets loose on the yard?

Entry and exit from the yard should be limited by gates which are kept closed when not in use. This will ensure that any loose horse on the yard is trapped in a 'safe' environment.

Are your stables and yard buildings well maintained?

If they are then they will be both secure and safe for you and your horse. Repairs should be done promptly and with appropriate equipment and materials. An ill maintained yard can present many dangers to humans and equines alike.

Do your stables have suitable windows?

Plain glass is really unsuitable. Metal bars or a metal grille on the inside of the glass will prevent ac-cess by the horse to the glass and make the windows safe.

How safe are the electrics?

Waterproof electrical installations and lighting circuits are a necessary on stable yards. Switches, wiring and light fittings should be out of reach of horses. A 10 milliamp residual current device (circuit breaker) should always be used when clipping or using electrical grooming machines and the like (the standard equivalent for human safety is 30 milliamps, but horses are more sensitive). Electrical installations should be checked by a qualified electrician every 3 to 5 years.

Is your yard safe in winter?

Adequate drainage will minimise surface water and ice on the yard. Keep a supply of rock salt or grit to spread on the yard when it is icy.

Are you taking precautions to ensure your muck heap is not causing pollution?

Make sure that any run off from your muck heap does not seep into a water course. A suitable manure store should be constructed. The National Rivers Authority can provide advice.

Is the yard kept tidy?

An untidy yard presents many hazards to you and your horse. Tools not in use should be stored somewhere inaccessible to horses - a pitch fork lying on the yard can have disastrous consequences for a loose horse. Similarly do not leave tools in a stable with a horse, even for just a few minutes - put them outside the door, preferably in a container so they will not fall over and trip you up. Get a rubbish bin for the yard and use it - bailer twine etc. should be bagged up, not left lying around.

What about fire precautions?

Fire extinguishing equipment should be situated on the yard at appropriate points. Notices of action to be taken if there is a fire should be displayed prominently, describing what should be done in terms of raising the alarm and fighting the fire, and also where the horses should be put if a fire occurs.

Keep the name and contact numbers for your vet next to the telephone in the stable yard and always have well equipped first aid kits for both humans and horses so that you are prepared if the need arises. Insure yourself and your horse - this will remove the financial worry if and when an accident does happen.

Note: The above points describe the ideal. We appreciate that you may not be able to implement all the ideas, but if you follow these suggestions as best your circumstances allow, this will still help to prevent accidents happening in and around your yard.